NEW DELHI (AFP) - Indias two main political parties have pitted youth against experience as they launch their campaigns ahead of month-long elections beginning April 16. The battle to win the hearts and minds of the worlds largest electorate began Monday with top leaders of the ruling Congress and the main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criss-crossing the country. Kick-starting the campaign for the Congress was star campaigner Rahul Gandhi, the 38-year-old great-grandson of Indias first premier Jawaharlal Nehru and son of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. The charge for the Hindu nationalist BJP was led by former home minister Lal Krishna Advani who, at 81, is hoping to grab the prime ministers post for the first time. Their contest for Indias 714 million voters will straddle 28 states, dozens of regional languages and at least six major religions. Rahul Gandhi, still seen as a greenhorn by many despite his illustrious political lineage, offered a distinctly populist message at a series of rallies in the rural belt of western Maharashtra state, vowing to keep working for development and the uplift of the poor. Since its surprise victory in 2004 elections, the Congress-led government has focused all programmes and policies on the common man, he said, highlighting its flagship rural employment programme and a $15b loan waiver scheme for debt-ridden farmers. The official Congress candidate for prime minister is incumbent Manmohan Singh, who is 76, and the party hopes Rahul Gandhis youth will attract the estimated 100 million first-time voters taking part in the coming election. At another meeting, he attacked Advanis party for criticising the governments record on national security. India was rocked by a series of attacks last year, including the November Mumbai siege, which was blamed on Pakistan-based militants. Terrorism is one of these things that the Opposition remembers only when the elections are near, Rahul Gandhi said. Advani, speaking in eastern Orissa state, pledged to get tough with terrorism and Pakistan. Pakistan has been waging proxy wars after failing to win any of the wars against India, he said. Were committed to fight it, he added.